Chapter 8: The Flames of Rebellion

The morning after the Trial of Justice, the surviving recruits stood in formation at the Marine outpost, their bodies battered but their spirits burning. Dragon adjusted his posture, his muscles still aching from the previous battle. Suki stood beside him, stealing occasional glances his way, her injuries wrapped in fresh bandages.

Captain Riku strode onto the training field, her sharp eyes scanning the line of recruits. "You have proven your resilience," she said, her voice firm. "But this is only the beginning. Strength alone does not make a Marine. From here on, you will be molded into warriors of justice. Some of you will rise; some will fall. The weak-willed should leave now."

No one moved.

Riku nodded approvingly. "Then training resumes at dawn. Dismissed!"

As the recruits dispersed, Suki approached Dragon, brushing her dark bangs from her face. "You okay? You look like you barely slept."

Dragon exhaled, rolling his shoulders. "I'm fine. Just thinking."

She hesitated before speaking.

"About what?"

Dragon's gaze flickered to the towering Marine headquarters in the distance.

"What it really means to be a Marine. The Trial of Justice showed me more than just who was strong—it revealed how easily people can turn against each other. I want to make sure I never lose sight of what's right."

Suki bit her lip. "That's what I admire about you, Dragon. You actually care about justice, not just power. Most recruits just want to climb ranks. You want to change the world."

Dragon looked at her, surprised by the intensity in her voice. "You sound like you believe in me more than I do."

She smiled softly, looking away. "Maybe I do."

A moment of silence settled between them before a bell rang, signaling the next drill. Dragon turned toward the barracks. "We should get ready. Another day of getting punched in the face."

Suki laughed. "If you need a sparring partner, I promise to go easy on you."

Dragon chuckled, shaking his head. "We'll see about that."

---

Weeks passed, the recruits hardened under grueling training. Dragon stood out, his mastery of Haki, Navy Six Styles, and his sheer willpower making him one of the strongest recruits. But his growing concerns about the Marines' methods deepened with each passing day.

One evening, Dragon found Suki sitting by the cliffside, watching the waves. He sat beside her, the salty breeze ruffling his dark hair.

"You always come here after training," he observed.

Suki hugged her knees. "It reminds me of home. My family was taken by pirates when I was a kid. I joined the Marines to make sure no one else goes through that."

Dragon's jaw tightened. "That's a noble reason."

She turned to him, her brown eyes reflecting the starlight. "What about you? Why did you join?"

Dragon exhaled slowly. "At first, I wanted to fix the system from the inside. But the more I see, the more I question if it's even possible. Justice shouldn't be about orders—it should be about protecting the innocent, no matter who they are."

Suki placed a hand on his. "Then maybe we change it together."

Their eyes met, and for a brief moment, the weight of their world seemed lighter.

---

The next day, a high-ranking Marine officer arrived at the training grounds. Major Ruze, known for his Cold demeanor and unmatched combat prowess, studied the recruits with a bored expression.

"Today's exercise is simple," he announced. "Survive."

Without warning, he raised a hand, and a wave of throne exploded outward. The recruits scrambled as Plant Throne covered the field, pinching some where they stood. Dragon reacted instantly, grabbing Suki and leaping away with Shave, narrowly avoiding the encroaching throne.

Ruze smirked. "Not bad, kid. But let's see how you handle this."

' As Expect of Vice Admiral Garp Son'

Then suddenly he has bad feelings, then he look towards Major but he saw that major was looking opposite direction.

He saw some one wear yellow suits and having Rear Admiral Uniform, he was pressed on the recruite, suddenly, a powerful force struck the ground before them, kicking up a shockwave of dust and debris. From the clearing stepped Rear Admiral Borsalino, known to some already as Kizaru, his uniform crisp, his lazy eyes scanning them with amusement.

"Yo, yo, Dragon-kun,"

Kizaru drawled, stretching his arms.

"Garp's brat, huh? Been wanting to see how tough you really are. Let's have a little test."

Dragon's eyes narrowed, his body instinctively shifting into a fighting stance. Suki took a step back, recognizing the overwhelming pressure Kizaru emitted, even without a Devil Fruit.

Kizaru vanished in an instant, reappearing right in front of Dragon with a casual kick. Dragon barely managed to block, the force sending him skidding back. Without missing a beat, he countered with a Haki-infused punch, but Kizaru dodged, moving with uncanny speed.

"Fast,"

Dragon admitted, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip.

"Too slow,"

Kizaru said, launching a flurry of strikes. Dragon met him blow for blow, the air cracking with their exchanges. Finally, Dragon landed a solid Armament Haki punch to Kizaru's ribs, forcing the Major to take a step back.

Kizaru chuckled. "Not bad. Maybe you really are stronger than your old man at this age."

He dusted off his uniform.

"Alright, alright. You pass. For now."

As quickly as he had appeared, Kizaru stepped aside, gesturing lazily. "The outpost is that way. Good luck, kiddos."

Dragon let out a breath, tension leaving his shoulders. Suki exhaled beside him, looking at him with newfound admiration. "That was… intense."

As he walked away, Dragon helped Suki to her feet. "You okay?"

She nodded, wincing. "Remind me to never fight Rear Admiral Kizaru again."

Dragon smirked. "Noted."

But deep inside, he knew this was only the beginning. If he was going to challened the system, he need strength and allies .

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